Overhead storage system for a bimini frame

Abstract

An overhead storage system for a boat bimini top comprising an elongated unitized backing material. The backing material has a front end, a rear end, a left and right side, a top surface, and bottom surface. Attached to the bottom surface of the backing material is a series of storage pockets. The storage pockets are of varying sizes and are generally rectangular in shape and have a hinged lid. Along the bottom left and right side of the backing material is an edge channel housing a telescoping pole. The telescoping poles provide support and structure to the backing material and storage pockets. At the bow end of each telescoping pole is a V-shaped bend, which generally conforms to the contour of a bimini shade cover. Mounted perpendicular to the telescoping poles and below the backing material, are several spreader bars. On the top side of the backing material are a series of support battens and batten sleeves which keep the backing material from sagging. The backing material, storage pockets, and telescoping pole assembly is removably attached to the front end of a bimini shade cover frame by a bow hook and to the rear of a bimini frame by a stern hook assembly. The invention provides convenient, removable, overhead storage without any modifications or alteration to the boat bimini shade cover.

I claim:  
     
       1. An overhead storage system for holding objects attachable to a bimini top comprising: 
       a pair of parallel longitudinal support means having a bow end and a stern end;  
       an attachment means for mounting said bow end of said pair of parallel longitudinal support means and said stern end of said pair of parallel longitudinal support means to said bimini top;  
       an elongated backing material having a top side, a bottom side, a bow end, a stern end, a right side, and left side, removably mounted between said pair of parallel longitudinal support means;  
       a multiplicity of storage pockets attached to said bottom side of said backing material.  
     
     
       2. The overhead storage system of claim  1  wherein said longitudinal support, means comprise a pair of cylindrical telescoping poles. 
     
     
       3. The overhead storage system of claim  1  wherein said attachment means for mounting said bow end of said longitudinal support means to said bimini top is a J-shaped hook possessing an integral elongated cylindrical base, said cylindrical base installed within with said bow end of said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       4. The overhead storage system of claim  1  wherein said attachment means for mounting said stern end of said longitudinal support means to said bimini top is a J-shaped hook, rotatably mounted to said stern end of said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       5. The overhead storage system of claim  1  wherein said backing material is composed of woven fabric having an edge channel sewn into said right and left side, and said longitudinal support means being housed therein. 
     
     
       6. The overhead storage system of claim  1  wherein said storage pockets have an openable bottom side, four vertical sides, and a top side sewn to said bottom side of said backing material. 
     
     
       7. The overhead storage system of claim  1 , wherein said backing material contains a means to stiffen and hold said backing fabric taut between said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       8. The overhead storage system of claim  7  wherein said means to stiffen and hold said backing material taut between said longitudinal support means is a series of detachable rigid spreader bars oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal support means and below said backing material. 
     
     
       9. The overhead storage system of claim  7 , wherein said means to stiffen and hold said backing material taught between said longitudinal support means is a series of rigid battens transversely mounted on said top side of said backing material. 
     
     
       10. The overhead storage system of claim  3 , wherein a fabric airfoil is removably mounted between said J-shaped hooks. 
     
     
       11. An overhead storage system for holding objects attachable to a bimini top comprising: 
       a pair of parallel longitudinal support means having a bow end and a stern end,  
       an attachment means for mounting said bow end of said pair of parallel longitudinal support means and said stern end of said pair of parallel longitudinal support means to said bimini top;  
       a plurality of modular backing material having a top side, a bottom side, a bow end, a stern end, a right side, and left side removably mounted between said pair of parallel longitudinal support means;  
       a multiplicity of storage pockets attached to said bottom side of said plurality of modular backing material.  
     
     
       12. The overhead storage system of claim  11  wherein said longitudinal support means comprise a pair of cylindrical telescoping poles. 
     
     
       13. The overhead storage system of claim  11  wherein said attachment means for mounting said bow end of said longitudinal support means to said bimini top is a J-shaped hook and integral elongated cylindrical base, and said cylindrical base installed within said bow end of said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       14. The overhead storage system of claim  11  wherein said attachment means for mounting said stern end of said longitudinal support means to said bimini top is a J-shaped hook rotatably mounted to said stern end of said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       15. The overhead storage system of claim  11  wherein said plurality of backing material is composed of woven fabric having an edge channel sewn into said right and left side and said longitudinal support means being housed therein. 
     
     
       16. The overhead storage system of claim  11  wherein said storage pockets have an openable bottom side, four vertical sides, and a top side attached to said bottom side of said plurality of backing material with hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
       17. The overhead storage system of claim  11 , wherein said plurality of backing material contains a means to stiffen and hold said backing material taut between said longitudinal support means. 
     
     
       18. The overhead storage system of claim  17 , wherein said means to stiffen and hold said plurality of backing material taut between said longitudinal support means is a series of rigid battens transversely mounted to said top side of said backing material. 
     
     
       19. The overhead storage system of claim  12 , wherein a fabric airfoil is removably mounted between said J-shaped hooks.